Removable hanger shoulder



Nov. 8, 1966 J. l... PINKARD REMOVABLE HANGER SHOULDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR Jerry L. Pinkclrd ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 J- L. PINKARD REMOVABLE HANGER SHOULDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR Jerry L. Pinkurd M'M ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 J. n... PINKARD 3,284,111

REMOVABLE HANGER SHOULDER Filed Oct. 18, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 1m "1\ J7 32 w 412 39g. i JQ 37 37 as as /E 25 4 mg a 019 /6 67 l v I g H 2 ;]ZZZZ 70- 56' II 27 27 INVENTOR Jerry L, Pinkurd 25 Q u Q 29 ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1966 J. 1.... PINKARD REMOVABLE HANGER SHOULDER m 4 E m m 7 Wu k .n w P W I w L 4 c y In. a W m 7 e J Filed Oct. 18, 1965 l lllll ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,284,111 REMOVABLE HANGER SHOULDER Jerry L. Pinkard, Fort Worth,Tex., assignor to Rector .Well Equipment Company, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex., a

corporation of Texas Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,931 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-141) This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Serial No. 140,586, filed September 25, 1961, now abandoned, entitled Removable Hanger Shoulder.

This invention is concerned with the suspension and hanging of one or more tubing strings in an oil or gas well.

Well head assemblies customarily include a casing head attached to the upper end of the casing which extends into the Well bore, a tubing head attached to the casing head, either directly or by means of an intermediate coupling or spool, and a valve assembly attached above the tubing head, commonly referred to as a Christmas tree.

The casing is suspended in the casing head by means of a slip and pack-01f assembly, thereby reducing the space in the casing head, so that the casing constitutes a considerably reduced diameter area compared with the bore of the casing head. The bore of the tubing head is generally the same diameter as the casing with the exception of suspension shoulders or extensions therein.

The tubing string, or strings, have been customarily suspended in the tubing head by means of hangers attached to the upper end of the tubing string which were seated on a shoulder or other projection in the bore of the tubing head, thereby causing said hangers to have such diameters that they could not be passed downwardly through the tubing head and into the casing.

In setting a tubing string in a casing bore, it is often necessary to pull upwardly on the tubing string and set the tubing under tension, either to set a packer or to straighten the tubing to a general vertical plane to make room for running a second string of tubing or to run pump sucker rods and minimize contact or sucker rods with the inner wall of tubing on pumping strokes. This requires that the tubing string be straightened and stretched in order to exert the necessary pull, since the tubing string usually has curls or kinks therein, and the tubing string may be elongated considerably in setting the packer or setting the tubing string under tension. Since this requires that the tubing string be lengthened, the tubing hanger had to be installed after stretching the tubing string because the tubing hanger could not be installed on the tubing before stretching inasmuch as the tubing hanger could not be passed downwardly through the tubing head into the casing.

This results in a cumbersome and expensive procedure,

which is fraught with danger and loss of time, in that it requires added stretch in the tubing string to provide sufficient space for temporary supporting means, such as spiders and slips, to suspend the tubing while the hanger is being installed. The present invention is intended to provide a tubing hanger apparatus wherein the tubing hanger maybe attached to the tubing string before latching into the packer, and is of such dimension that it can be lowered through the tubing head into the casing, so that the stretch of the tubing string in setting the packer and straightening the tubing string can be compensated for to such an extent that the hanger can be seated and suspended in a tubing head, hanger flange, or hanger bowl by the normal contraction of the tubing string when released.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a means for hanging a tubing string wherein the hanger element may be lowered through the bore of the tubing and into the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger having a removable seating shoulder thereon whereby the tubing hanger may be passed through the bore of the tubing head and into the casing with the shoulder removed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger with a removable split ring engageable thereabout providing a removable suspension shoulder for the tubing hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a hanger apparatus a laterally placeable and removable split ring engageable about a hanger which has a central layer of resilient material providing a flexible hinge for the separable sections of the ring and an automatic seal between the hanger and the bore of the head by reason of the weight of the tubing thereon.

A general object of the invention is to provide means for suspending a tubing hanger to a Well head assembly which is simple and economical in construction and easy to assemble, and suspend in the tubing head.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following, and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

Suitable embodiments of the invention are shown in the attached drawings, wherein;

FIGURE I is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a tubing hanger assembly employing my invention, wherein two strings of tubing are suspended in the hanger head by means of the novel hanger arrangement;

FIGURE II is a perspective View of the split ring shoulder employed as a part of the hanger mechanism shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE III is a top plan view partially cut away taken on the line IIIIII of FIGURE I;

FIGURE IV is a top plan view of the split ring hanger element;

FIGURE V is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on the line VV of FIGURE IV;

FIGURE VI is a top perspective view of the seal clamp ring used with the hanger device;

FIGURE VII is a top plan view partially cut away of a hanger flange showing a modified form of split ring hanger element, the sections of which are movable inwardly and outwardly by retractable pins extending through the flange;

FIGURE VIII is a cross-sectional, elevational'view of a hanger bowl in which tubing hangers. are suspended by split ring hanger elements; v

FIGURE IX is a cross-sectional elevational view of another modified form of tubing hanger assembly, wherein is employed a combination suspension and sealing ring; FIGURE X is a perspective view of the combination suspension and seal ring employed in the alternate form of FIGURE IX; and

FIGURE XI is a partially sectionalized ele-vational view of the suspension ring raised above the tubing head as it would be in stretching the tubing to set it in tension or in setting a packer in the well.

Numeral references are employed to designate the various parts shown in the drawings, and like numerals indi cate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawmgs.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tubing head attached above the casing head (not shown). The tubing head 1 has a central bore 2 therethrough and is terminated at its upper end by an annular flange 3, to which is secured the annular flange 5 of the hanger head or flange 4. The hanger head or flange 4 is secured to the tubing head 1 by means of a plurality of studs 9, which pass through aligned passages 10 and 11 in the flanges 5 and 3, respectively, and the flanges 5 and 3 are drawn together by means of nuts 9a threaded on the outer ends of the studs 9.

A seal is provided between the flanges 5 and 3 by means of a conventional octagonal metal seal ring 6, which is positioned in the opposing V-groves 7 and 8 in the opposite faces of the flanges and 3, so that when the changes 5 and 3 are drawn together, the seal ring 6 is compressed between the V-grooves 7 and 8, and forms -a metal to metal seal.

The hanger head 4 has two parallel circular bores 12 and 13 therethrough, having annular, tapered, upwardly facing shoulders 14 and 15 provided therein.

The hangers 25 are suspended in the bores 12 and 13, on the shoulders 14 and 15, by means of a special removable hanger ring, indicated generally at 16.

The hanger ring 16 is a split ring and is divided into two arcuate sections 16a and 16b, attached together by a hinge member 17. The opposite ends of the hinge member 17 extends into corresponding slots 18 and 19 in the opposed ends of the arcuate sections 16a and 16b, and are pivotally attached in the slots 18 and 19 by means of hinge pins 20 and 21. Therefore, it will be seen that the sections 16a and 16b of the split ring 16, may be separated upon the hinge 17, in order to pass it about the hanger element 25, and may be latched about the hanger element by means of a key member 22, having legs 22a thereon arranged to enter the holes 23 and 24, provided in the opposite ends of the ring sections 16a and 16b.

The hanger members 25 are simple tubular members having female threads formed in opposite ends thereof to receive the tubing sections hereinafter referred to, and are provided with a groove 26 thereabout arranged to receive the hanger ring 16.

The hanger ring 16 has a tapered shoulder 27 formed thereabout arranged to correspondingly seat on the annular shoulder 14 or 15 in the passage 12 or 13.

It will be seen that the sections 16a and 16b of the hanger ring 16 may be separated on the hinge 17 and extended about the hanger member 25 and the ring 16 may then be closed about the hanger member in the groove 26, and secured in place thereabout by means of the key 22 inserted in the holes 23 and 24.

It will further be noted that the ring 16 extends outwardly of the outer surface of the hanger member 25 so that the tapered shoulder 27 thereon will come into contact with the upwardly facing tapered shoulder 14 or 15 to suspend the hanger member 25 in the passage 12 or 13.

Thereby the hanger ring 16 provides .a removable shoulder on the hanger element 25, which may be placed thereon after the tubing has been installed in the well and the packer has been set and the tubing string has been stretched to provide for a suspension of the hanger in the tubing head, flange or bowl. Thus with the removable shoulder provided by the ring 16 removed, the hang er member 25 may be passed downwardly through the bore of the tubing head and into the casing a suflicient distance to compensate for the stretch of the tubing upon setting the tubing under tension, and by placing the hanger ring 16 thereabout and releasing the tubing, the contraction thereof will allow the shoulder 27 on the ring 16 to seat against the shoulder in the bore 12 or 13.

' Strings of tubing 28 and 29 are threadedly attached by means of threaded connections 30 and 3 1 to each of the tubing hangers 25, said strings of tubing extending into the casing and communicating with separate zones of production in the well in the usual manner.

Sections of tubing 32 and 33 are also attached by means of threaded connections 34 and 35 to the upper ends of the hanger members 25, said tubing sections 32 and 33 being in communication with valved outlets in the Christmas tree at the top of the well. The sections 32 and 33 obviously may be employed as handling joints for lowering the tubing into the well and stretching it.

A packing assembly is provided for sealing between the bores of the passages 12 and 13 and the tubing sections 32 and 33, which packing assembly includes back up rings 36 and 38, with a resilient packing ring interposed therebetween, extending about the pipe section 32 or 33.

A seal ring gland 39 for expanding the seal ring 37, has a central hole 40 therethrough extendable about the pipe sections 32 or 33, and has bolt receiving holes 41 in the outer ends thereof through which the screw fasteners 42 may be extended, and through corresponding holes provided in the back-up ring 38 and into threaded holes in the upper face of the hanger head or flange 4. As the cap screws or studs 42 are threaded inwardly, the backup ring 38 is moved downwardly against the packing ring 37 to compress and radially expand same to provide a seal between the inner surface of the bore 12 or 13 and the pipe sections 32 or 33.

In assemblying and using the hanger device hereinbefore described, the tubing string 28 or 29 is made up and lowered into the well. At the desired place the hanger member 25 is attached to the upper end of the tubing string and may be lowered through the passage 12 or 13 in the hanger head 4, through the tubing head, and into the casing. The tubing may then be pulled upon to set a packer or to stretch the tubing to set the tubing under tension. In doing so, the hanger member 25 may be extended above the hanger head or flange 4, but upon releasing the tension thereon, the partial elastic contraction of the tubing will allow it to retract into the bore 12 or 13. Before releasing the tension on the tubing string to set the hanger member 25 in the head 4, the split ring 16 is placed thereabout in the groove 26 in the manner hereinbefore described, so that the shoulder 27 and 14 or 15 may come into contact, to suspend the hanger element 25, and the tubing string attached thereto, in the bore 12 or 13.

When it is desired to remove the tubing string from the well, the hanger element 25 maybe pulled upwardly above the hanger head 4, to remove the split ring therefrom. Then upon releasing the tension on the tubing string, the hanger element 25 may again be lowered through the head 4 into the casing, to permit relaxation andunlatching of the packer, or the tubing string may be rotated or jarred upon to release the tubing string from the packer.

A modified form of the split ring hanger device is shown in FIGURE VII, wherein a tubing head or hanger flange 43 is shown having appropriate annularly spaced stud receiving holes therein for attachment to a tubing head or casing head, as the case might be. Parallel vertical passages are arranged through the head 43 about which may be provided a seal ring groove for receiving a metal seal ring for sealing between the flange 43 and a flange on an attachment element thereabove.

The split ring hanger element in this form, which may also be referred to as a removable shoulder, takes the form of two generally arcuate sections 48 and 49, which are arranged to be moved inwardly into annular grooves 26 of hanger elements 25, when disposed in the passages 45 and 46, at the appropriate elevation.

Lateral oblong shaped recesses 50 and 51 are formed in the walls of bores 45 and 46 to permit the ring sections 48 and 49 to be withdrawn thereinto out of en-' gagement with the grooves 26 in hanger elements 25 for release of same therefrom. The lateral recesses 50 and 51 provide lower Walls 52 and 53, which support the ring sections 48 and 49 when they are in engagement in the grooves 26. The said ring sections 48 and 49 extend over, and rest upon, the shoulders 52 and 53, to support the tubing string suspended to the hanger element 25 therebelow.

The ring sections 48 and 49 are moved inwardly and outwardly by means of retractable pins 54 extending laterally througth the flange 43. A threaded passage 55 is provided through the flange 43 to receive each of the pins 54, and the pins have threaded portions 56 thereon which cause the pins 54 to move along the threaded bore 55 when the pin is rotated by engagement with the wrench engaging surfaces 60.

Seal rings 57 are provided about the stems 54 and the wall of counter bore 54a, which seal rings are compressed by the gland 58 threaded into the counter bore. The gland 58 may be rotated by engagement with the wrenching surfaces 61 thereon to move the gland into and out of counter bore 54a. The packing rings 57 are expanded against the back up rings 59 to seal the passages 55 through the flange 43.

Each stem 54 has a cylindrical flange 62 on the outer end thereof, which is rotatably engaged in an undercut slot 63 provided in the outer surface of each of the ring sections 48 and 49.

It will be seen that by rotation of the shaft 54, the shaft is caused to move inwardly and outwardly of the bore 45 and 46, and thereby move the ring sections 48 and 49 into and out of engagement with the slots 26 in the hanger elements 25. Therefore, it will be seen that a hanger element may be lowered through the bore or 46 into the casing, while the ring sections 48 and 49 are retracted, and the ring sections 48 and 49 may be moved into engagement with the annular slots 26 to support the hanger elements 25 after the tubing has been stretched in the manner hereinbefore recited.

By virtue of the engagement of the stems 54 with ring sections 48 and 49, the said stems and rings also serve as a hold down for the tubing hangers when the ring sections are engaged in the groove 26 of the hanger.

In FIGURE VIII is shown a modified application of split ring hanger device, wherein a bowl 64, having an external annular tapered seating surface 65 thereon about which is provided a seal ring groove 66, may be seated and suspended on a corresponding shoulder in a tubing head (not shown).

The bowl 64 has parallel bores 67 and 68 therethrough in which are provided upwardly facing shoulders 69 near the lower end thereof on which the split rings 16 are arranged to seat to support and suspend the hanger elements 25 within the bores 67 and 68.

The operation and function of the last described modified form is the same as that hereinbefore described with reference to the form of FIGURE I, with the exception that the hanger elements 25 are seated in bores 67 and 68 of the bowl 64, instead of in a flange or tubing head bore.

As shown in the drawing and described herein, the novel hanger arrangement is shown in connection with a dual completion. However, it will be understood that it would be equally successful in a single completion or in a multiple completion of more than two strings of tubing.

In FIGURES IX and X there is shown another modified form wherein a modified combination suspension and seal ring, indicated generally at 71, is employed.

The combination suspension and seal ring, or shoulder 71, includes outer arcuate shaped metal segments 72a and 72b, outer arcuate shaped metal ring segments 73a and 73b. The outer metal ring segment 72a-72b and 73a-73b are spaced apart and held together by an intermediate semi-circular shaped split ring 74 which is made of resilient material such as neoprene or rubber compound. Preferably the resilient ring 74 is bonded and molded integrally with the metal ring segments 72a-72b and 73a-73b so as to provide an integral ring which is separable to allow it to be placed about a pipe or other cylindrical member. It will be noted that the resilient material of the resilient ring 74 provides a flexible hinge 75 between the ends of the metal segments 72a-72b and The metal ring segments 73a and 73b are of ditferent circumferential lengths so that the end 730 overlaps the end of ring segment 72a when the free ends thereof are brought together. The resilient ring segment 74 is provided with coinciding beveled ends 74a and 74b thereon so that when the combination ring segments are closed together to provide a continuous ring, the beveled surfaces 74a and 7412 are brought together in overlapping coinciding relationship to provide, in effect, a continuous ring.

It will be seen that the combination seal and suspension ring 71 may be pulled apart at the ends 74a and 741) on the flexible hinge to permit the combination ring to be passed about a hanger 25 without the necessity of disengaging threaded joints, and the ring may be relaxed into the groove 26 to provide a support shoulder for the tubing string.

After being placed in the groove 26 the suspension hanger 25 may be lowered to allow the ring 71 to come to rest on the shoulder 14 or 15. The weight of the tubing string imposed upon said seal ring 71 will cause the compression and expansion of the resilient ring section 75 into sealing engagement with the inner Wall of the bore 12 or 13. TlhllS, the combination suspension and seal ring, provides both for the suspension of the tubing string and for a seal between the tubing head bore and the tubing hanger. This seal feature is important in that same provides a temporary seal before the permanent seal 37 is installed.

In FIGURE XI there is illustnated the procedure for setting a tubing string in tension or for setting a packer in the well by upward pull on the tubing.

In suclh illustration a tubing section is attached to the tubing section 33 by means of a coupling 78.

The elevator generally indicated at 81, includes a separable collar comprised of hinged segments 79 and 82 hinged together by pin 83. The collar may be extended about the tubing section 33 underneath the coupling 78 in position to engage said coupling for lifting on the tubing string. The elevator 81 includes pivoted bails 81a and 81b, which pivoted to the collar 7982 and attached to an elevator block (not shown) suspended to the derrick or other support positioned above the well head. By means of the elevator 81 an upward pull may be exerted on the tubing string 29 to pull same upwardly in setting a packer, or in setting the tubing in tension, as hereinbefore described. The tubing 29 is stretched and pulled upwardly until the groove 26 is above the well head and is in position to receive one of the segmented separable rings 16 or 71. It is emphasized that such separable rings are split in the sense that they are comprised of two segments which may be laterally separated and divided so that the segments may he slipped about the tubing hanger 25 without the necessity of disengaging threaded joints or employing special suspension and handling equipment. The rings 16 and 71 may then be relaxed into the groove 26 to provide a shoulder thereabout. The upward pull. on the pipe 29 may then be relaxed, to allow the elasticity thereof to move the tubing hanger 25 downwardly to a position where the support ring or shoulder 71 will come to rest on the shoulder 14 or 15 in the tubing head bore, to thereby support the tubing in tension. If the combination seal and hanger ring 71 is employed the resilient ring 74 will be compressed and expanded into sealing engagement with the wall of the bore 12 or 13.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a method and means for suspending a tubing string on a removable shoulder comprised of a ring made into separable segments which may be passed about the tubing hanger while it is disposed above the tubing head without the necessity of disjoining the tubing or other members disposed above the tubing head, which may be lowered into engagement with a shoulder in the tubing head to suspend the tubing in tension, or to permit the tubing hanger to be lowered downwardly through the bore of the tubing head ease-,1 11

and then raised above the tubing head to provide for the maximum manipulation, setting and suspension of the tubing with reference to the tubing head with the least amount of labor and expense, and which provides alternatively for a removable suspension shoulder or ring which provides both for suspension and automatic sealing as the tubing string is suspended.

It will be understood that other and further embodiments of my invention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Means for suspending pipe under tension in a well comprising a suspension member having a bore therethrough; an annular upwandly facing shoulder in the bore; a tubular hanger member; a groove about the outer surface of the hanger member disposed in said bore; a split ring comprised of separable segments hingedly joined at one end and having free ends, which may be separated about the hinge and passed about the tubular hanger member from laterally thereof and closed in said groove, said ring being of greater diameter than the hanger member so as to provide an outwardly extending removable shoulder about the hanger mem'ber arranged to come into contact with the upwardly facing shoulder in the bore; said split ring being comprised of upper and lower pairs of rigid arcuate segments each of said pairs of segments having a combined arcuate length of 360, having a resilient split sealing ring bonded between the segments; the resilient sealing ring providing a resilient hinge between the ends of the rigid segments; at least one of said pair of arcuate segments being of different circumferential length with respect to said hinge portion so that the abutting free ends of the upper arcuate segments will overlap the abutting free ends of the lower arcuate segments when said split ring is in closed position, and the free ends of the resilient split ring are beveled at their contacting surfaces so that when the free ends of the split ring are brought together there is provided a continuous ring with overlapping sealed beveled surfaces supported on opposite sides by the rigid segments, said bevel extending from the free end of the upper arcute segments to the offset free end of the corresponding lower arcuate segment; means for anchoring the tubing in the well below the suspension memlber; means for exerting an upward pull on the tubing string above the suspension member; the hanger member being of a diameter without the removable shoulder thereon to permit same to pass through the bore of the suspension mem-ber below the upwardly facing shoulder, whereby the hanger member may be lowered through the bore without the removable shoulder thereon and then pulled upwardly above the suspension member for placement of the removable shoulder in the groove from laterally thereof without disjoining the tubing string and then lowered into the bore to suspend the said removable shoulder on said upwardly facing shoulder to thereby suspend the tubing in tension to said suspension member.

2. As an article of manufacture, a split ring for suspending tuhing in a well said split ring being comprised of upper and lower pairs of rigid larcuate segments each of said pair of segments having a combined arcuate length of 360; a resilient split sealing ring bonded between the rigid segments, the said resilient sealing split ring providing a resilient hinge between the ends of the rigid segments and having free ends arranged to be brought into contact to provide a continuous combination suspension and seal ring; at least one of said pair of arcuate segments being of different circumferential length with respect to said hinge portion so that the abutting free ends of the upper arcuate segments will overlap the abutting free ends of the lower arcuate segments when said split ring is in closed position, and the resilient split ring has opposed beveled surfaces on the free ends thereof arranged to be brought together in contacting and overlapping relationship when the split ring is closed, to thereby provide a continuous split ring having sealed, contacting beveled end surfaces which are rigidly supported on opposite sides thereof between the rigid segments said bevel extending from the free end of the upper arcuate segments to the offset free end of the corresponding lower arcuate segment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,713 3/1931 Dean 285-141 1,836,419 12/1931 Wigle 285148 1,857,101 5/1932 Nixon 285144 1,869,739 8/1932 Dean 285141 1,881,556 10/1932 Heggern 285-144 1,886,167 11/1932 Conroy 285-140 2,073,890 3/1937 Tsohappat 285l46 2,532,662 12/1950 Eckel 285--147 2,676,036 4/1954 Arrowood 285146 2,920,909 1/1960 Allen 285-147 3,011,552 12/1961 Rhodes.

3,185,505 5/1965 Lanmon 285-137 3,192,592 7/1965 Yancey 285-144 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

R. GIANGIORGI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR SUSPENDING PIPE UNDER TENSION IN A WELL COMPRISING A SUSPENSION MEMBER HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH; AN ANNULAR UPWARDLY FACING SHOULDER IN THE BORE; A TUBULAR HANGER MEMBER; A GROOVE ABOUT THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HANGER MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID BORE; A SPLIT RING COMPRISED OF SEPARABLE SEGMENTS HINGEDLY JOINED AT ONE END AND HAVING FREE ENDS, WHICH MAY BE SEPARATED ABOUT THE HINGE AND PASSED ABOUT THE TUBULAR HANGER MEMBER FROM LATERALLY THEREOF AND CLOSED IN SAID GROOVE, SAID RING BEING OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE HANGER MEMBER SO AS TO PROVIDE AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING REMOVABLE SHOULDER ABOUT THE HANGER MEMBER ARRANGED TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE UPWARDLY FACING SHOULDER IN THE BORE; SAID SPLIT RING BEING COMPRISED OF UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF RIGID ARCUTATE SEGMENTS EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF SEGMENTS HAVING A COMBINED ARCUATE LENGTH OF 360*, HAVING A RESILIENT SPLIT SEALING RING BONDED BETWEEN THE SEGMENTS; THE RESILIENT SEALING RING PROVIDING A RESILIENT HINGE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE RIGID SEGMENTS; AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PAIR OF ARCUATE SEGMENTS BEING OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH WITH RESPECT TO SAID HINGE PORTION SO THAT THE ABUTTING FREE ENDS OF THE UPPER ARCUATE SEGMENTS WILL OVERLAP THE ABUTTING FREE ENDS OF THE LOWER ARCUATE SEGMENTS WHEN SAID SPLIT RING IS IN CLOSED POSITION, AND THE FREE ENDS OF THE RESILIENT SPLIT RING ARE BEVELED AT THEIR CONTACTING SURFACES SO THAT WHEN THE FREE ENDS OF THE SPLIT RING ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER THERE IS PROVIDED A CONTINUOUS RING WITH OVERLAPPING SEALED BEVELED SURFACES SUPPORTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES BY THE RIGID SEGMENTS, SAID BEVEL EXTENDING FROM THE FREE END OF THE UPPER ARCUTE SEGMENTS TO THE OFFSET FREE END OF THE CORRESPONDING LOWER ARCUATE SEGMENT; MEANS FOR ANCHORING THE TUBING IN THE WELL BELOW THE SUSPENSION MEMBER; MEANS FOR EXERTING AN UPWARD PULL ON THE TUBING STRING ABOVE THE SUSPENSION MEMBER; THE HANGER MEMBER BEING OF A DIAMETER WITHOUT THE RE- 